Aussies take Balboa's Governor's Cup

Australian-based team Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club sailed past the top-seeded Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron team Sunday in the final best-of-five match racing event, earning the title of champion of the 47th Governor's Cup.

Local favorites Balboa Yacht Club – skippered by Ryan Davidson -- captured third out of the 12-team field after defeating the San Diego Yacht Club team in the consolation round.

The event, hosted by Balboa Yacht Club, pits junior international sailing teams ages 16 to 20 in head-to-head races, bringing some of the best young sailing talent from around the world to Newport Beach. Racing started Wednesday, with the finals wrapping up Sunday at 2 p.m., followed by a trophy presentation with the winners at Balboa Yacht Club.

"The racing was intense the whole week, and I felt like our team was pretty evenly matched with New Zealand heading into the finals," said Royal Freshwater Bay's bowman Adam Negri.

The Australian team of skipper Sam Gilmour, middleman Chris Smith and Negri had lost earlier in the week to New Zealand's team led by skipper Chris Steele, and crew Scott Barnes and George Brasell. But after recording three victories in a row against Balboa Yacht Club in the semifinals, Negri said they were ready for the challenge.

"We really focused on the conditions, as they were light and shifty through the day," Negri said. "When we got to the finals, we were sailing our best. With one more year of age eligibility, Negri said, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club will be back next year to defend their title.

Steele's New Zealand team, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and Balboa Yacht Club sailed consistently through the week, with all three teams ending the first day of sailing action Wednesday undefeated in the round-robin races. Rounding out the top four finishers was the surprise team of the week, San Diego Yacht Club. Skippered by AJ Reiter, the team sailed without a win on the first day.

"We knew we had to make adjustments, and I feel we did a pretty good job of working together," said Reiter, who was participating in his first Governor's Cup. Over the next two days, San Diego moved from the cellar up to fourth place, having to face Steele's Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in the semifinals Saturday. After four races, the two teams were knotted at two wins apiece. In the fifth and deciding race, the teams were close at the final leg, but San Diego's spinnaker sail failed to rise completely, resulting in a New Zealand victory.

"From what we were told, it was one of the biggest comebacks in the history of the Governor's Cup; to have no wins the first day and nearly pull out a win in the semifinals," Reiter said.

But on the final day, knotted at one race apiece in the best of three series, Balboa Yacht Club's match racing experience played a factor. San Diego was caught over the starting line before the start time. The penalty forced them to turn around and restart, costing them valuable seconds on the course.

"It's a high stress, high pressure regatta," said Balboa Yacht Club middle crewman Brandon Folkman, who was competing in his third Governor's Cup. "It's important to keep your head level, and I think they might have gotten a little worried in that pre-start and ended up with that penalty."

The third-place finish was the highest in nearly 30 years for Balboa Yacht Club, who hasn't won the event since 1980. Davidson, with four years experience, Folkman with three and bowman Greg Kent with two year's experience can all return for next year's event.

"We're leaning towards taking another run at it, but we'll evaluate it over the next few months and make a decision," Folkman said.